Two suspected vandals have been arrested by Aliade community youths and handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution.

The suspected vandal, one Mr Peter Awanger, who resides in Aliade, Gwer-East Local Government Area of Benue State was caught vandalising the transformer located at the LGEA Primary School at about 2 am on the 23rd August, 2021.

A statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications, Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) Dr Adakole Elijah, and made available to The Nation on Thursday, stated that  after his arrest, the youths invited the traditional ruler of Aliade, Chief John Wunde, to the scene of the incident before handing the culprit over to the police for investigation and possible prosecution.

Upon interrogation, the suspected vandal who confessed to vandalising a total of five distribution transformers within the locality, disclosed that he had been selling the vandalised items such as armoured cables, feeder pillars units, spans of aluminium conductors among other parts to one Mr Christian Odunwa in Makurdi.

Based on his confession, the police took him to Makurdi where the said Odunwa was identified and promptly arrested on the 24th August, 2021.

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Both the suspected vandal and his buyer have been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department, Police headquarters in Makurdi for further action.

The Nation’s investigation revealed that before the arrest of the vandal, youths in the community had accused staff of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc of being responsible for the incessant vandalisation of distribution transformers in the area.

The accusation and suspicion led to the manhandling of some staff of the company by the youths, even when the accused staff pleaded their innocence and insisted that the crimes were being committed by some unscrupulous elements in the community.

Reacting, the Managing Director of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc, Engr Hashim Ibrahim Bakori, thanked the youths and the traditional ruler for protecting electricity installations in their domain.

He urged members of other communities in the company’s franchise states to emulate Aliade Community youths.

Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO in the state, DSP Catherine Anene, confirmed the arrests.